Heathcote fluoride move fails

Press, 28 November 1980, Page 4

Heathcote fluoride move fails

A move towards fluoridation of the water supply in Heathcote County was defeated at last evening’s council meeting. Cr O. T.. Alpers failed to win support for; a detailed costing of fluoridation at the county’s Ashgrove Terrace and Palatine Terrace pumping stations.: ' - ' ; He urged councillors to follow international expert opinion on the safety and advantages of fluoridation and referred to a “handful of cranks who have seized on fluoridation as a way of upsetting the bureaucracy." “It is not for us to substitute our ill-lnfonned fears and prejudices for scientific knowledge,” Cr Alpers. There was no evidence of harmful effects from fluoridated water, he said. It was simply adding to water a natural substance already present in the same , quantities in many parts of the world. Two-thirds ©f New Zealan*

ders jjow had a fluoridated! water supply and the bene-1 fits could be seen in a 60 per cent drop in dental fillings needed by children, Cr Alpers said. He rejected leaving parents to give their children fluoride for teeth protection. “Even caring parents, and I include myself in that, are haphazard about giving fluoride pills,” Cr Alpers said. He also rejected a referen- ■ dum among residents on the question. Cr Alpers said fluoridation at the two pumping stations suggested would effect supply to twothirds of the county’s population and he estimated that with Government subsidisa- ' tion, the cost to the council would be $10,190. i Cr B. E. Sutherland seconded the motion but only because he felt, the council : should have all information on the issue.Ml M. C. Ci Buclwnan A

said it would be dreadful to fluoridate such a pure water supply as Heathcote’s. She referred to fluoridation as “forced medication” and preferred use of tablets on individual choice. Only children up to the age of 10 benefited from fluoride, Cr Buchannan said. Cr Alpers should arrange “two dr three” public meetings to have the issue debated, Cr J. Richardson told the council. Cr R. Simcock said there was controversy about the effects of water fluoridation. Cr M. J. Taylor said she had been elected on an assurance to a number of ratepayers not to support fluoridation. In rejecting Cr Alpers’ call for a detailed costing for fluoridation at two pumping stations, the council adopted the decision of the works and reserves committee to receive a report from the County Engineer (Mr D. J. May) bn the cost and prac-

ticality of fluoridating all the county’s water supply. Hospital approval Plans to run the former Karitane Hospital in Cashmere Road as a private hospital have been given planning consent An application for consent to the use in a residential zone had been opposed by two residents concerned about the possible effects of traffic using an exit driveway on to Cashmere Road. The four applicants, Mr and Mrs G. D. Hampton and Mr and Mrs G. A. Walmisley, had submitted to the council that the buildings, with only minor change, would be extremely suitable for use as a private hospitaL The council adopted a decision approving this, subject to certain conditions relating to parking arrangements and the Cashmere Road driveway.